Slate roofs are quite popular amongst luxury homes and high-end properties here in Australia. 

These roofs are some of the toughest in existence and they require very little maintenance to keep them in great condition.

 If you have been considering this type of roof then the best thing to do right now is to go for a drive so you can see what these rooftops look like in person. 

But how do you tell slate roofing from other types of roofing? In this quick guide, we will show you how to spot slate rooftops with ease.

Slate Tiles Are Made Of Natural Rock

Slate roofing tiles are not manufactured. They are simply cut from layers of natural slate rock. Slate roofing tiles will have a very hard natural rock feel to them. 

The hard rocky tiles can also be a bit flaky if the tiles are over 100 years old and might chip into thin rocky layers if you hammer or drop the tile.

Slate Tiles Can Be Crumbly or Smooth

The older a slate tile is, the more crumbly it will look. New and fresh-cut slate roof tiles are a lot smoother and can even have a slight shine to them. Older titles like those over 120 years tend to be flaky and rougher. The different layers in slate rock might be visible by looking at the tile from the side.

Slate Roofing Comes In Specific colours

Slate roofing is made of natural slate rock. As such, the colour of these tiles cannot be adjusted because no ingredients can be added to the tiles. It can simply be cut to different sizes. Here is a quick look at the most common slate rock colours available;

New York Red – The tiles are dark grey and usually have a red undertone to them

Vermont Mottled Purple – The dark tiles offers a light purple shine

Vermont grey – These tiles are stark grey

Pennsylvania black – These tiles are dark but not solid black. They offer more of a matt dark grey colour

Vermont green – The tiles can look grey with a slight ocean green undertone

 Vermont purple – The tile offers a purple/reddish undertone to its dark grey colour

Vermont sea-green – These grey tiles offer a slight sea green with a blue undertone

Vermont grey-black – As with Pennsylvania black, the tile is not a solid grey or black and can have lines in the tile that offer different hues. 

There are quite a few different variations of slate roofing colours. This is because the natural slate rock is harvested in different regions. The location differs in mineral components and as such offers slate rock different hues. If you understand the main colours of slate rooftops better, you can spot these rooftops easier when you go for a drive.

Slate Roofs Are Found On High-End Properties

Natural slate rock is quite pricy and the installation is quite laborious. As a result, these tiles are usually more common in high-end neighbourhoods where the average income is much higher.

Slate Rock Does Not Bend

Many roofing manufacturers do make fake slate roofing materials. They can look a lot like the real thing but these roofing tiles are made of rubber sustenance and are not as firm and can typically be bent.

 Slate rock is easily identified if you know what to look for. With these tips, you can go and check out other slate roofs in your area and identify these homes with ease. And if you do decide that this is the correct roof for your home then it is time to give Amalfi Roofing a call right now for a free quote and all the best prices.